The radio had an astounding effect on music and society. Radio was the first large scale medium, available to anyone who could listen in(2). Radio entertained and educated, enlightened and joined together Americans. The radio was important for showing Americans new ways to talk, think, new products to buy and use, and allowing Americans to feel like they were at an event as it happened. They were able to listen to what was going on as it happened. Radio allowed one person to reach hundreds of people, to show them new ideas and information(2). People from all over could discuss the same event or game. Radio brought the nation closer together.
In 1920, the first radio station took off. It was called KDKA, a station in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania(2). People listened to it with awe; radio was a new thing. Less than three years later, over 500 new radio stations had appeared. More than 400,000 homes had a radio. Only 60,000 had radios in 1922(2).
Radio broadcasters, able to reach hundreds of people in their audience at once, educated, entertained, and enlightened their listeners. Anything from instrumental solos to football games to talks or lectures were put on the air, and Americans listened. Radio sales took off. The Radio Corporation of America's stock bloomed in worth(2).
Click on the picture to see a photo gallery of radios from the 1920's.
On Saturday, 11 June 1927, Charles Lindbergh - after flying to Paris - returned to the United States(2). Radio broadcasters never lost sight of him. That day, over six million radios were in American's houses. Statisticians figured that at least five people listened to each, so over thirty million people listened that day.
During the election of 1928, politicians began to campaign on the air and over the airwaves(2). Now that so many Americans owned radios, the campaign over the radio was an important tool to winning supporters.
In these ways and in others, radio changed a nation, and molded Americans into different people, which would have a profound effect on the country for years to come.
Works Consulted
(1)"1920's Radios." Old Radio Place. The Old Radio Place. 4 Mar 2008 <http://www.oldradioplace.com >.
(2)Lewis, Tom. ""A Godlike Presence": The Impact of Radio on the 1920s and 1930s." Organization of American Historians. Organization of Amerian Historians. 1 Mar 2008 <http://www.oah.org/pubs/magazine/communication/lewis.html> .
Radio in the 1920s
In 1920, the first radio station took off. It was called KDKA, a station in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania(2). People listened to it with awe; radio was a new thing. Less than three years later, over 500 new radio stations had appeared. More than 400,000 homes had a radio. Only 60,000 had radios in 1922(2).
Radio broadcasters, able to reach hundreds of people in their audience at once, educated, entertained, and enlightened their listeners. Anything from instrumental solos to football games to talks or lectures were put on the air, and Americans listened. Radio sales took off. The Radio Corporation of America's stock bloomed in worth(2).
On Saturday, 11 June 1927, Charles Lindbergh - after flying to Paris - returned to the United States(2). Radio broadcasters never lost sight of him. That day, over six million radios were in American's houses. Statisticians figured that at least five people listened to each, so over thirty million people listened that day.
During the election of 1928, politicians began to campaign on the air and over the airwaves(2). Now that so many Americans owned radios, the campaign over the radio was an important tool to winning supporters.
In these ways and in others, radio changed a nation, and molded Americans into different people, which would have a profound effect on the country for years to come.
Works Consulted
(1)"1920's Radios." Old Radio Place. The Old Radio Place. 4 Mar 2008 <http://www.oldradioplace.com >.
(2)Lewis, Tom. ""A Godlike Presence": The Impact of Radio on the 1920s and 1930s." Organization of American Historians. Organization of Amerian Historians. 1 Mar 2008 <http://www.oah.org/pubs/magazine/communication/lewis.html> .
(3)Play Things Of Past: Vintage Radios, Tubes, Parts. 20 Feb 2008. GBS. 4 Mar 2008 <http://www.oldradioparts.com/pg7p1.jpg >.